Govt to evict all makeshift shops from capital’s footpaths from Nov 1; no doubt over timely start of Padma Bridge construction work:Com Minister

By AKM Moinuddin

Dhaka, Oct 2 (UNB) – Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain today reiterated that the Padma Bridge would be constructed by the current tenure of the government and there is no doubt over the timely start of the work in next few months.
“We’ve progressed much through completion of land acquisition, bridge design and managing fund for the project …People will see work of the project from next year,” he said while addressing a seminar at DCCI conference hall.
Hosain said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself is very sincere to implement the project on time, which will boost GDP growth by 1.3 percent.
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) arranged the seminar on “National Communication Infrastructure: Role of Private Sector” where experts, engineers and business leaders taking part suggested for better roads and railway communication system in the country.
Replying to queries from the participants the Minister said the government has taken a bold step to remove all makeshift shops from Dhaka’s footpaths for proper utilization of walkways.
“The drive will start from November 1 and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authority has already been instructed to clear the footpaths in the city,” he said.
In response to a query on government’s plan to ensure hassle-free bus journey within the capital he said more than 1,000 buses would soon but gradually pressed into the city. The buses are being imported from China, Korea and India.
“Some 300 buses will be imported from Korea, 650 busses from India and 175 buses from China,” Minister Hossain said urging the businessmen to reduce dependence on use of cars that largely contribute to the traffic jam.
He said the government has been trying its best to keep Dhaka city free from traffic congestion. A number of projects including elevated expressway has been take up to remove the traffic jam. He assured that the projects would not be conflicting to each other.
Touching the neglected railway sector he viewed that it had been destroyed in the seven-year tenure of BNP-Jamaat government and caretaker government when not a single project was implemented for its development or maintenance.
“We’ve taken massive programs at a cost of Tk 6,000 crore for the development of railway sector that include purchase of locomotive and passenger coaches,” he said and added orders to procure them from abroad in most cases have already been placed. It is expected people would shortly get benefit of the improved railway communication.
On commuter service he said the government is actively considering introducing train services on Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Narayanganj routes. This will reduce the pressure on roads.
“Meanwhile, he said overpass or underpass in every important point where traffic jam is severe are being constructed,” he said.
The Communications Minister invited the business leaders to join hands with the government if they are interested to build any overpass or underpass in Dhaka. “I’ll ensure approval from the government if you come up with proposals,” he said.
DCCI president Abul Kashem Khan, Institute of Development Strategy Chairman Mustafizur Rahman, coordinating director of National Communication, Transportation and Infrastructure Development Waliur Rahman, Khairul Majid Mahmood and Shahjahan Khan took part in the nearly 4-hour lengthy discussion.
END/UNB/AKM